Monday 12th September 2011

You Know You Want To...DeTomaso Guara

The DeTomaso what?

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On paper at least the Guara sounds like something you'd want in your life: aluminium frame, carbon-Kevlar body, aluminium V8, pushrod suspension at both ends...and all from the same people who built such crowd-pleasers as the Mangusta and Pantera.

All DeTomaso had to do was to come up with a body design that stirred similar emotions to the Guara's predecessors. What they came up with was far from the most awkward car to look at, but did it do justice to the memory of the Pantera? The front bears a passing resemblance to a C5 Corvette, but the back...umm...

Apparently only 50 Guaras were built (38 coupes, 10 Barchettas, and two spiders), although some DeTomaso connoisseurs reckon the total to be more like 40, so this is an exclusive piece of kit.

What makes this particular Guara a tad more exclusive is that it uses the BMW 4.0 V8, as opposed to the majority, which ran a cast-iron Ford V8. As a result, despite not delivering the snort of the American motor, the BMW-equipped cars benefitted from a superior power-to-weight ratio of 253bhp per tonne, which meant a respectable 0-62 time of five seconds and a top speed just shy of 170mph. Similar Brembo anchors to those used on the Ferrari F40 ensure suitable stopping power.

The vendor describes this one (chassis number 10) as being in 'concours' condition and has recently commissioned a full service. Although it currently rolls on BBS wheels, the original Marechesi items are included in the sale and the asking price is 71,000 euros (car is in Belgium), which is just over £62,500 at current exchange rates.

Given the exclusivity and the use of BMW bits (not just the motor) in its construction, that doesn't sound too bad. Or would you prefer to ship this original, unrestored Pantera from the States?

[Itsallicanafford]

...Squint and it looks like a Zonda...or maybe i need new glasses...

[y2blade]

hmmm not sure about that.

[Hugo a Gogo]

looks a bit like The Wraith

paint it black and get a black race suit and helmet

[F1GTRUeno]

I adore these things (and the Maser Barchetta that it's based on).

They're more interesting than Pantera's because even by rare, obscure supercar standards hardly anyones heard of them.

Not that I'm in a position to buy one (not even close) but I'm glad the owner still has the original wheels as well. Despite these ones really suiting the car I'm a sucker for originality, especially on seriously rare cars.

Would rather have Vario-Robs than this one though, blue is nicer than silver.

[goron59]

I really like it - not stunning, but head turning for sure. A bit pricy though?

[Stu R]

I'm fairly sure DeTomaso is Italian for 'makes your bits tingle'

[Carnnoisseur]

Looks like an improved TR7.......(if there is such a thing)......

[soad]

Hmm, that's a lot of cash. Suppose it's rare enough

[CampDavid]

Awaits the usual spacky "I'd rather have a 911" comment

[Chris71]

I reckon the spider variant is an okay looking car. Not so keen on the coupe.

[detomaso]

F1GTRUeno said:

Would rather have Vario-Robs than this one though

Hopefully he'll spot this thread

[Riggers]

CampDavid said:

Awaits the usual spacky "I'd rather have a 911" comment

I'd rather have a 911 (HTH)

[thewheelman]

Hmmm, at first i thought it was on the ugly side, yet the more i look at it, the more i like it. It's a Serena Williams of a car.....

[Itsallicanafford]

thewheelman said:

Hmmm, at first i thought it was on the ugly side, yet the more i look at it, the more i like it. It's a Serena Williams of a car.....

...you sure your not thinking of Serena Williams' bank balance...

[Alx323]

FD RX-7 headlights and sidelights?

[thewheelman]

Itsallicanafford said:

thewheelman said:

Hmmm, at first i thought it was on the ugly side, yet the more i look at it, the more i like it. It's a Serena Williams of a car.....

...you sure your not thinking of Serena Williams' bank balance...

Hey, if she wanted to pay me.....then that's fine by me

[sprinter1050]

With headlights popped up reminded me of the Lamborghini 400GT

http://www.autopult.hu/index.php/magazin/veteran/2...

[Ex Boy Racer]

How high is the body on that Pantera? Suspension obviously set up for fat americans...

[leghorn]

Want to like it, but...

[j_s14a]

It looks like the love child of a Lotus Élan and a Mazda RX7.